The Sound Of Woodstock

How do you become The Father of Festival Sound? 50 years ago, organizers of the historic Woodstock Music and Art Fair in upstate New York searched for someone who could handle the unprecedented challenge of running their sound system. Luckily for them, “this crazy guy in Boston,” Bill Hanley, was available. Hanley’s innovative setup and the resulting recording forever shaped our collective memory of this generation-defining concert.
Brothers Bill and Terry Hanley formed Hanley Sound in the basement of a storefront on Salem St. in Medford’s Haines Square in 1957. Among a long list of innovations, Bill pioneered techniques in amplification, sound system design, and sound reinforcement, all of which came into play at Woodstock. Want more peace, love and music? Watch American Experience’s WOODSTOCK, now streaming → pbs.org/woodstock

[@chrisvanleuven3334]

People don't seem to care or realize what these pioneers acomplished in this time and circumstances . Respect !

[@johnw8984]

If you watch to the movie Woodstock you can hear the sound and it's very clear and very good considering they were in an area a long way from the stage I think it was Jefferson Airplane that was playing you could hear Grace Slick singing which when you really think about it for the time was pretty incredible. I think they wired and Amplified Madison Square Garden that's why Madison Square Garden has a lot of rock groups like The Rolling Stones recording live albums from Madison Square Garden like "get Yer ya-ya's out" and Led Zeppelin "the Song remains the Same".

[@jaggerowen4148]

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[@quincyaugustus2506]

@Jagger Owen Instablaster ;)

[@jaggerowen4148]

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[@jaggerowen4148]

@Quincy Augustus It worked and I finally got access to my account again. I am so happy:D Thank you so much, you saved my ass!

[@shawnmills1543]

The unsung heroes

[@russelldawkins9094]

I have been a recording engineer for 30+ years, and before that a speaker designer. I was at Woodstock, about 2/3 way back in the crowd and the sound was perfect; the same tonality and level I would have chosen in my living room. The live mix was faultless. Kudos to Bill Hanley and the mix engineer and techs at Woodstock. As to the loudness, I remember one incident: there was a trumpet fanfare at the top of one of Janis Joplin's songs which ended abruptly followed by a few seconds of silence before the song began. Five or more seconds later you could hear the echo of the trumpet sound bounce back from a distant hill. All that on 10-12,000 watts, which isn't much by today's standards-my studio near field studio monitors (HEDD Type 20s) have 900 watts per side, and they're only 4 feet away! Ever since then I have heard only one sound reinforcement system equal its quality and that was in Ukraine in 1994, to my surprise. They seem to have a good handle on live sound there-and techs with ears. Most live sound I have heard since Woodstock is grossly inferior, doing the music and the musician no justice at all. Roger Daltry apparently doesn't know his ass from his elbow to call the system crap.

[@tomcarl8021]

You are to Roger Daltrey the difference between a guy watching a football game on TV, and the quarterback playing the game.

[@BenneWill]

@@tomcarl8021 I would have to agree with you that live sound hasn't improved since the 60s. I know it's very controversial to say this and get a lot of hate from engineers today... but going to lots of shows and sound quality sucks at all the new venues. The amps at Woodstock were McIntosh mi350 tube amps. In my opinion, valves sound superior at loud volumes. You don't get the distortion you get with transistors.

[@brucestewart7371]

Amazing you could get that much sound out of so few speakers. The Dead would put tons of speakers together for that wall of sound, but this was a far different achievement. This is where it all started. Nobody could hear the music before that! They’d just come to watch the acts on stage!

[@jeffreyknight3884]

Wow, I didn't realize the rain came down so hard and the wind blowing really strong. What a beautiful time in history. That bunch of people really experience true peace and love. Thank you to all the hippies that were there.

[@rc1564]

Its funny the average person 'like me'', doesn't think abt how much thought goes into something like this. Little time & low budget too. Excellent!

[@tootiejamba]

Fantastic. Lots of pics I've never seen.

[@reign6of6e6terror]

Will go in my mirrow forever back in time 🌸

[@clarebriggs8169]

Quality. I am sure I was born in the 60s!I love these tunes from then

[@RichardMNixon-zh6uz]

Maakitplace. Coober. Woodstock was a state operation by Helms in 1965, by the way. It didn't go as he'd wanted, so Altamont was Plan B. I wasn't too pleased, but the music recorded at both venues were fantastic. The Who and Hendrix, especially.

[@youngkeys]

Woodstock is on Netflix

[@anthonybarnes2355]

Far out man !

[@kurtbanff9724]

PRETTY COOL

[@BarrySmith70]

I wonder what Beatles show Hanley did the sound for. At Beatles shows the sound was so poor nobody could hear over the screams

[@mindcontrol67]

I thought Eddie Kramer Recorded the Show?

[@josmulder3060]

Kramer was there to represent Warner Bros and engineered the recording with Lee Osborne, who worked for Hanley.

[@effdonahue6595]

@@josmulder3060Kramer and Seinfeld were there too 🤓🤪🚀

[@irenegarciabarrera5874]

Who's the guy in the picture in 4:31?

[@RICHBLACKCOCK]

Irene Garcia Barrera. Harold Cohen, possibly; giving his account from the view from 1969!!!!

[@reign6of6e6terror]

I am😄

[@amramhakohen3923]

"...everybody was well-behaved." (too stoned to move!)

[@jfjoubertquebec]

Hmmm. Nah. You'd be surprised. The really were well-behaved. Easy to be cynical about everything today.

[@toreckman8899]

@@jfjoubertquebec I would agree but what does that have to do with the story. Every one of these videos seem to inject that remark. It’s almost like, who are they trying to convince?.

[@jfjoubertquebec]

@@toreckman8899 Perspective changes as time goes by. In the future, our comments and perspective will also appear dated

[@ellynorth7466]

@@jfjoubertquebec and they all felt the same. they were great ...... all of them !!!

[@robotpizza]

Too tired from walking, too hungry and then the mud came too! Just better to sit with some other humans and take in the sonic vibes!

[@zampieritto]

Look like in 1995

[@RICHBLACKCOCK]

Ya gotta look at the entire spectrum/scope of live music going into Aug., 1965. The average rock n roll/rock band played in small clubs seating 50 to say 100 people max with a small amplifier or 2 on a stage. The Beatles/BEATLEMANIA blows thru with all of the screaming girls & the attendance moves into 2 thousand plus seated auditoriums & now the sound has to reach attendees` ears & of course the band members have to hear 1 another onstage so SHEA STADIUM Beatles` show; four years to the day of WOODSTOCK(Aug.,18 1965)with 55,000 at Shea blows the sound right into the Bill Hanleys of the world to build sound systems so the band members can hear 1 another as well as the crowd/audience.

[@RICHBLACKCOCK]

I don`t get ROGER DALTRY of THE WHO calling the sound system crap whilest his band performed at WOODSTOCK!!! for 1969 standards??!!! 500,000 tickets weren`t printed so I know Mr. Hanley & crew didn`t anticipate that. Maybe 35,000/to 50,000 thousand attendees officially.